SSA erroneously paid a beneficiary and the beneficiary is unable, for certain reasons,
to return the incorrect payments to SSA in that year and the beneficiary:
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•
did nothing to cause the erroneous payment; and
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•
received the payment too late in December to return it to SSA, or they did not learn
until the next year that payment had been made (payment sent to the bank and notice
received the next calendar year); and
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•
promptly returned the payment(s) to SSA. Consider repayment prompt if made in January.
Consider repayment(s) made in February or March prompt only after the facts show an
earlier repayment was not possible. Repayments after March 31 should not be considered
prompt.